Many people are choosing cremation as an alternative to burial due to its lower cost and its greater options for paying tribute to the deceased. There is far more to cremation than burning a body, and at Weeks’ Dryer Mortuary we believe that memorializing the departed through cremation should be as meaningful as a traditional funeral. If you’re considering cremation services in Parkland, WA, read on to find the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

How Long Does It Take to Cremate a Body?

The process of cremation involves placing a body in a cremator, a high-powered furnace that can produce flames of up to 1800 degrees fahrenheit. This will break an average-sized human body down fully in only ninety minutes. When the process is complete, nothing will be left but the bone ash, which is placed in a transport urn prior to the memorial.

How Does Aqua-Cremation Compare to Traditional Cremation?

Aqua-cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is the process of breaking a body down using an alkaline solution instead of high heat. This has a lower carbon footprint than using a furnace, and the process is as complete as traditional cremation. It takes longer than a cremator, up to four hours, but at the conclusion only sterile bone ash will remain.

Can I Have a Funeral After Cremation?

Yes, at Weeks’ Dryer Mortuary we offer a full menu of funeral options for our clients who choose cremation services. This includes visitation prior to cremation and a customized memorial service on site at our chapel or at the location of your choice.

What If I Want to Plan My Own Memorial Service?

Many of our clients who choose cremation want to scatter the ashes at a meaningful location or have a private memorial service. We offer our basic cremation package which will treat the body with care and return the ashes to you in an urn of your choosing, at which point you can take over.

What Are My Options for the Ashes?

However you want to celebrate your love one, we can make it happen in the post-cremation process. Many of our clients choose to have the ashes interred in a family crypt or grave. We offer a selection of stylish artisan urns for those who want to display them at home, and urns designed for easy scattering. For those who want to divide the remains among those closest to the deceased, we offer vials and jewelry designed to contain small amounts of ashes.

Is It Safe and Legal to Scatter Ashes?

Yes, the cremation process produces sterile bone ash with no health risks, so there are no hazards to scattering the ashes in an open space. There are no legal restrictions on the disposal of ashes, but we recommend checking local government regulations and the ownership of any meaningful area you’ve chosen.

If cremation services in Parkland, WA are right for you and your family, we can help. You can stop in at our main office at 220 South 134th Street, Tacoma, WA, 98444, less than two miles from Parkland, WA, or reach us on our website or by phone at (253) 537-0253.